GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - The Nutz turned in a strong performance in his first race back since last June as he took over through the far turn and rolled to a 3 1/2-length win to defend his title in the $25,450 Budweiser-Tondi Stakes at Fonner Park on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday's first race at Aqueduct was canceled when the six horses scheduled to run were not brought over to the race-day security barn by the proper time, 8 a.m., necessitating that they all be scratched. The remainder of the card was picked up with the second race at the regularly scheduled post time of 1:29 p.m. Eastern.
Setting slower fractions than bottom-level $8,000 maiden-claimers in the previous race, favored You Lift Me Up ($4) was never seriously challenged in winning the $50,000 Work the Crowd Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
The 5-year-old mare, the runner-up in last year's edition of the stakes, broke alertly as jockey Russell Baze attempted to get her to take back early. However, she wound up on the lead despite crawling through easy opening fractions of 25.23 seconds and 49.57.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Nick Zito knew Ice Box was a much better horse than his fifth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth indicated. He proved that point Saturday at Gulfstream Park when Ice Box rallied from last and outfinished fellow longshot Pleasant Prince by a nose to capture the and in the process earn himself a spot in the Kentucky Derby on May 1.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Hot Dixie Chick, an Eclipse Award finalist last year at 2, ran to her 1-5 odds on Saturday, when she easily won her first start in more than six months in the Oaklawn Park.
"I'm glad to get that race in," said Steve Asmussen, who trains Hot Dixie Chick for Grace Stables. "It looked like Dixie Chick."
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - D' Funnybone confirmed his status as the best 3-year-old sprinter in the country with a relatively easy 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday's at Gulfstream Park.
While D' Funnybone added the Swale to a resume that includes three other Grade 2 sprint stakes victories, his owner, Paul Pompa Jr., said there are no plans to point the colt to the Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles.
NEW ORLEANS - Ide Like a Double used a stalking trip to get back to the winner's circle Saturday in the $60,000 Costa Rising Stakes at Fair Grounds.
With Hallway scratched and Star Guitar entered for next week's New Orleans Handicap, Ide Like a Double was able to reign as the best Louisiana-bred at the 1 1/16-mile distance.
While entrymate Autobeacat set the pace, jockey Patrick Valenzuela kept Ide Like a Double a length back before asking him to move forward on the turn.
Plantation went head to head with Reckless Runner through the stretch before prevailing by a half-length to improve his record to a perfect 4 for 4 in Saturday's $57,400 Private Terms Stakes for 3-year-olds over a mile at Laurel Park.
Plantation, the second choice in a field of seven, sat about 3 1/2 lengths back in third as Reckless Runner set the early pace through fractions of 23.43 seconds and 46.85. Plantation, ridden by Travis Dunkelberger, advanced two wide on the turn along with Regal Warrior and took up the fight with Reckless Runner entering the stretch.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Bourbon Bay's love affair with the Santa Anita turf course continued on Saturday when he thoroughly dominated nine overmatched rivals when scoring a 2 1/2-length victory in the for older horses.
Bourbon Bay ($3.80), the favorite, looked like a winner every step of the way. He was perfectly positioned just behind and to the outside of Quasicobra, the early leader, for the first nine furlongs of the 1 1/2-mile grass race. He took over on the far turn when Quasicobra quickly faded, then drew away, the outcome never in doubt.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It has been well documented how loaded trainer Todd Pletcher is for this year's Kentucky Derby. Well, it appears he will be well-represented in the Kentucky Oaks as well.
Devil May Care, a Grade 1 winner in her second career start, rebounded from a disappointing 3-year-old debut with a 2 3/4-length victory in Saturday's at Gulfstream Park.
Amen Hallelujah, the 3-2 favorite, finished second, five lengths ahead of Joanie's Catch. They were followed in the order of finish by Switch, Christine Daae, and Danny's Friend.
